10 Downing Street: Entertainment Budget

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 21 July (WA 261), what receptions for business leaders have been held in Number 10 Downing Street in each of the past seven years; who attended; and what was the approximate cost of each reception.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The information requested cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.

Climate Change

The Duke of Montrose: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Answer by the Lord Bach on 18 October (Official Report, col. 677) on the European Union Council of Environment Ministers and assistance to developing countries, whether discussions in the council included consideration of the trading of carbon credits from the establishment of new forests in the third world.

Lord Bach: Council discussions did not cover this issue as Ministers focused on the broad negotiating mandate for the forthcoming 11th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP11).
	However, the UK has already shown support for extending the EU emissions trading scheme to allow use of credits from afforestation and reforestation projects in developing countries conducted under the clean development mechanism. These projects can be used to help meet commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, but are not currently eligible for use under the EU scheme. The European Commission is likely to consider this issue in its review of the EU scheme, to be completed in 2006.

Companies House Pricing Review

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 20 October (WA 138), which commercial interests of Companies House prevented the release of information about its pricing policies.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The final report of the pricing review made recommendations regarding Companies House's future activities, potential new products and cost allocations. This included an analysis of Companies House's customers and products and the impact of any changes at Companies House on the market for company information. Release of this information would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of Companies House.

Companies House Pricing Review

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 20 October (WA 138), what government policy was involved in the pricing issues covered by the Companies House Pricing Review.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The final report of the pricing review included information on potential future formulation and development of government policy in relation to Companies House and its services. This was therefore redacted from the final report when it was released under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 under Section 35. The review also contained formulation of Companies House's strategic objective to make electronic information available more cheaply, preferably with no charge at all.

Erythropoietin

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What the recommended treatment for cancer treatment-induced anaemia would be if funding for erythropoietin on the National Health Service were withdrawn.

Lord Warner: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is appraising erythropoietin for cancer treatment induced anaemia. NICE published its draft recommendations on the use of erythropoietin for consultation in July.
	It is important to note that NICE's draft recommendations do not constitute its final guidance. Funding for erythropoietin on the National Health Service is currently made on a case by case basis and there will be no change to these arrangements until NICE publishes its final recommendations.
	Final guidance from NICE is expected to be published in May 2006.

EU: Migrant Workers

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the Department of Trade and Industry, in collaboration with member state governments of the new European Union accession countries, proposes to ensure that seasonal workers arriving in the United Kingdom to work in agriculture, horticulture and associated industries will receive information about minimum wages and other worker entitlements.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The agricultural minimum wage is the responsibility of the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs.
	However, we have offered to work with the governments of all the new member states, to prepare bi-lingual "know before you go" leaflets for migrant workers seeking temporary work, giving advice on questions to ask before leaving the country and on legal protections offered to workers including details of the national minimum wage and agricultural minimum wage and the relevant helpline numbers.
	To date we have produced leaflets in partnership with the Portuguese, Polish and Lithuanian Governments and are still in talks with other governments. These benefited from input from the TUC, the CBI and other stakeholders and have been distributed widely in both the workers' home countries and the UK; for example, via citizens advice bureaux. In Poland, for example, they have been publicised on television and our embassy and the Polish authorities have worked hard to distribute them via job centres, recruitment fairs and other channels. The text of the leaflets is also available on the DTI website www.dti.gov.uk/er/agency/migrant—workers.htm.
	The Home Office also provides information to workers from EU accession countries. Nationals of the new member states (except Cyprus and Malta) working in the UK are subject to the worker registration scheme. When subject to the scheme, they need to register with the Home Office if they plan to work for more than one month for an employer in the UK.

Flood Defences: Essex

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What improvements are planned to the existing flood defences around the Essex coast.

Lord Bach: Defra has policy responsibility for flood risk management in England, funds most of the Environment Agency's flood related work and grant aids individual projects undertaken by local authorities and internal drainage boards. The programme to manage risk is driven by these operating authorities; Defra does not build defences, nor direct the authorities on which specific projects to undertake.
	We understand that the Environment Agency is planning works at Jaywick (beach recharge), Great Wakering (improvement to sea wall), Canvey Island (drainage improvements) and Battlesbridge (improvements to estuary wall); and that Southend Borough Council has started work to improve defences along the south and north-east frontages of Two Tree Island.

Food Standards Agency: Webcasts

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people observed over the Internet the proceedings of the meeting of the board of the Food Standards Agency on 15 September; what questions were raised by e-mail by the observers during that meeting; by whom the questions were raised; what answers were given; and whether they have any plans to extend provision for Internet and e-mail participation in meetings and discussions of government departments and agencies in the future.

Lord Warner: As part of the Food Standards Agency's commitment to openness and transparency, all its open board meetings are webcast on the Internet as a matter of course. Decisions on whether to webcast other meetings are taken on a case-by-case basis. The board meeting held on 15 September was viewed live via the Internet by at least 368 people. Other people may have watched the recording subsequently. One question was submitted by e-mail from Chris Whitehouse of Consumers for Health Choice: "Assuming that the board adopts the recommendations under Item 5 in relation to the Food Supplements Directive, what specific strategy do they have for achieving the objectives specified". This question was addressed in the question and answer session by the chief executive, who said that, if the agency's advice was accepted by Ministers, the agency would be seeking to influence those officials in the commission drafting the proposals on which the negotiations would be based. The full answer can be viewed at www.flyonthewall.com/FlyBroadcast/FSA/LondonBoard0905.
	On the point about whether they have plans to extend provision for Internet and e-mail participation in meetings and discussions of government departments and agencies in the future, I am unable to reply on behalf of other government departments.

Haemophilia: Recombinant Treatment

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the chairman of the Haemophilia Society's recent representations to the Department of Health regarding sustained funding for provision of clotting factors; and whether they will confirm their commitment to recombinant treatment for all haemophilia patients in the current decade and beyond.

Lord Warner: Officials at the Department of Health have been closely monitoring the implementation of this programme over the past two years. The Government remain committed to this programme and we are currently considering options for future funding of this important treatment.

Heavy Goods Vehicles

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will delay taking any action on the dimensions or weights of heavy goods vehicles until the breaches of the drivers' hours regulations are addressed by those providing and using road haulage.

Lord Davies of Oldham: No decisions have been made regarding changes to dimension or weight limits for heavy goods vehicles.
	The drivers' hours rules are enforced by the police and by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (in Great Britain) or the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency (in Northern Ireland).
	Breaches of these long-standing rules are taken very seriously and can attract a range of penalties including prohibition notices, fines and/or imprisonment.

House of Lords: Dress Code

Lord Laird: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	How is the dress code of particular areas of the House of Lords enforced; and by whom.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: Black Rod has a general responsibility for enforcing rules, including dress codes, agreed by the House and its committees. Staff acting under his authority, including refreshment department staff, have a role in reminding Members of agreed dress codes, but, ultimately, Members themselves are responsible for maintaining these standards.

Iraq: Compensation Claims

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who will assess claims for compensation payments following the events of 19 September in Basra, Iraq; who will approve such payments; and under what heading of public expenditure they will be charged; and
	What claims for compensation for (a) injuries, and (b) damage to property have been received following the events of 19 September in Basra, Iraq.

Lord Drayson: As a result of the events of 19 September in Basra, two claims for personal injury and two claims for property damage have been received.
	Claims are usually assessed and approved, on the basis of whether or not the Ministry of Defence has a legal liability to pay compensation, by the Ministry of Defence area claims officer in Iraq. Payments are accounted for under the resource account heading of administration, payments and cash losses.

MRSA

Lord Campbell-Savours: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the names of laboratories used by the Department of Health for methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) testing.

Lord Warner: The Department of Health does not routinely commission methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus testing but would use only suitably accredited laboratories. In most instances this would be laboratories with clinical pathology accreditation but for environmental sampling United Kingdom Accreditation Service accreditation may be appropriate.

Nuclear Weapons

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish their estimates of the current and prospective capabilities of the Russian Republic and the People's Republic of China to launch nuclear weapons; and whether they will publish their estimates of the relative capabilities of Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom in this respect.

Lord Drayson: Russia currently deploys strategic nuclear weapons in its land, sea and air-based systems. Russia has some 600 ground based inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), more than 200 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and about 700 air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs) in service, giving the capability to deliver over 3,500 warheads. Additionally, Russia could deploy between 3,500 and 5,500 non-strategic nuclear warheads. Under the terms of the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT) Russia is obliged to reduce the number of strategic warheads to between 1,700 and 2,200 by the end of 2012.
	Despite the pending reductions in size of its strategic nuclear forces, brought about by economic constraints and treaty obligations, Russia continues to modernise its nuclear arsenal. For the land-based leg of its triad, it is currently deploying the new SS-27 (Topol M) ICBMs in silos; a road-mobile version of the SS-27 is due to be produced. Russian statements have indicated that some older missiles in the currently deployed ICBM force could remain in service until 2030. A new SLBM (Bulava) has recently been test-fired and will probably be deployed with a new class of submarine.
	China's strategic nuclear capability is its silo-based ICBM force, currently assessed as around 20 missiles strong. It also deploys larger numbers of nuclear-armed intermediate and medium range ballistic missiles, all of which are believed to carry single warheads.
	China is working on a range of new mobile nuclear delivery systems, a sea-based strategic missile, and potentially nuclear-capable ALCMs. The intention is to possess a strategic nuclear triad, enhancing the survivability and deterrent value of its strategic force.
	We do not make estimates of French nuclear capabilities. French nuclear policy has been set out by President Chirac, for instance in his speech of 8 June 2001 (available via www.elysee.fr/elysee/francais/interventions/discours–et–declarations/2001/juin/juin–2001.12666.html). Planned expenditures are set out in the draft Defence Programme Law for 2006, which is available via the French Ministry of Defence's website, at www.defense.gouv.fr/sites/defense/base/breves/projet–de–loi–de–finances–pour–2006.
	The UK's nuclear weapons policy and posture was set out in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, which announced a reduction in our stockpile of operationally available nuclear warheads to fewer than 200 and confirmed that the single UK nuclear submarine on deterrent patrol would normally be at several day's notice to fire and has the capacity to carry up to 16 missiles. Decisions on the way forward for the UK's minimum nuclear deterrent capability are likely to be needed during the lifetime of this Parliament.

Office of Fair Trading: Telephone Numbers

Lord Tyler: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Office of Fair Trading now follows the guidance of the Central Office of Information and OFCOM in relation to the use of 0870 and 0845 telephone numbers for public inquiries.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Office of Fair Trading follows the guidance of the Central Office of Information and OFCOM in relation to the use of 0870 and 0845 numbers for public inquiries.
	OFT publishes a geographic London 020 number alongside its 0845 public inquiries unit number in telephone directories and makes a wide number of geographic numbers available on its website.
	OFT is reviewing its description of the costs of calling its 0845 contact centre number in publications and on its website in the light of the COI and OFCOM guidance.

Meningitis: Combined Vaccine

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What research has been conducted, into a combined pneumococcal-meningococcal vaccine for infant immunisation; and with what outcome.

Lord Warner: We are aware of one study published on a pneumococcal-meningococcal combined vaccine (Buttery JP, Riddell A, McVernon J, Chantler T, Lane L, Bowen-Morris J, Diggle L, Morris R, Harnden A, Lockhart S, Pollard AJ, Cartwright K, Moxon ER. "Immunogenicity and safety of a combination pneumococcal-meningococcal vaccine in infants: a randomized controlled trial". Journal of American Medical Association. 2005 Apr 13;293(14):1751-8).
	The authors compared the immune response of children given the combined pneumococcal-meningococcal vaccine at two, three and four months of age to giving the vaccines separately. The immune response to the meningococcal component of the combined vaccine was lower when compared to the response to the meningococcal vaccine given separately. There was also evidence that the combined pneumococcal-meningococcal vaccine may have reduced the immune response to other vaccines given at the same time.

Royal Air Force: University Air Squadrons

Lord Garden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Drayson on 17 October (WA111), whether the Ministry of Defence has varied (a) the minimum medical standards for recruits to the University Air Squadrons; and (b) the total annual training hours that University Air Squadron members are required to undertake.

Lord Drayson: University Air Squadron members are required to meet the minimum medical requirements for Royal Air Force entry to a ground branch. This has not been varied by the changes recently made.
	University Air Squadron members are required to attend one evening per week during term time and complete 40 hours of ground training in the first year of membership, reducing to 30 hours in the second year and 20 hours in subsequent years. University Air Squadron members are also required to attend for a period of 15 days continuous training. This annual training requirement has not been varied.